How to Make a Socktopus

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Gale Zucker

Sloan Howard

Sloan Howard

Photo: Gale Zucker

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by Rachael Dorr
excerpted from CraftStylish Gifts to Make, p. 67

I’ve always been a fan of making interesting projects out of everyday materials. Cardboard boxes can become houses or cars, egg cartons can become bright yellow daffodils, and scraps of fabric can quickly become a new wardrobe for a doll or teddy bear. Here, I’ll show you how to transform a handful of socks into a sweet, stuffed toy octopus. The Socktopus makes a perfect gift for any little one on your list; it is unique, safe for all ages, and doesn’t cost much to make.

One of my favorite tasks in this project is choosing the socks. I like to try different color combinations from the array of ladies’ trouser socks available. Beyond color, I often mix and match patterns and textures to vary the look and feel of my creation. Stripes, polka dots, and seasonal socks scream fun and are perfectly balanced by more staid solids and tiny-print fabrics. Once the socks have been chosen, a few cuts, a little sewing, and a couple of spare hours culminate in a complete—and completely adorable—Socktopus.

What You'll Need:

Cotton thread for sewing
Embroidery needle
Embroidery thread
Four Ladies’ trouser socks of the same size
Polyester fiberfill or cotton alternative (Michaels.com)
Ribbon
Scissors
Sewing needle
Optional: 2-inch diameter circle of felt

First, cut up four socks
Before you cut, wash the socks to make them nice and soft.

1. Turn one sock inside out. Cut it down the middle through both layers, leaving 1⁄3 of the length intact at the toe end. This sock will form the head and two legs.

2. Turn the other three socks inside out, and cut the toes off of them. Then, cut all of them in half lengthwise through both layers to form two strips from each sock.

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Comments (2)

jillnichol writes: This socktopus reminds me of the octopus that slept on my bed in grade school. Im going to start keeping an eye open for cute socks.
Posted: 6:30 pm on January 21st

cheap_chick writes: This is so utterly cute. I love that it uses regular, easy to find materials. You made the instructions very easy to understand. I can't wait to give it a try.
Posted: 10:37 pm on December 18th

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